Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

Maybe its the star anise? The similarities to shaving cream? Barbasol?
Scents that I know of that remind me of shaving cream, or my dad when I was young after he shaved, all smell similar to what I would call a 'barbershop' fragrance.
Rive Gauche pour Homme (I own this one ), Azzaro pour Homme, Brut and even Aramis to an extent have this effect to me (also Lomani pour Homme, but I dont know if you guys get that where you are from)

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

There really isn't note that gives something a barbershop aura (Except maybe for Bay rums). A barber shop scent is that wich evoques memories of these old places and an old-school style shave (before the Mach 3 and Fusions and 6 blade razors ever existed). Go to your drugstore and smell Aqua Velva, Brut and Old Spice. Rive Gauche has the top notes of Barbasol but there are other barbershop scents.

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

I think it refers to classic turn-of-the century ingredients for men's toilet waters, as they have been listed: fresh lavender-citrus tops, soapy clove/herbal heart, powdery drydown. But memory also plays a role, as do references to traditional shaving/grooming products.

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

It's all subjective. Barbershop, to me, would mean a slightly sweet talcy note along with hair and clipper oil. But I haven't been in a barbershop since I was a kid. Then it was a "stylist" which, in a frag for me, would be burnt hair (permanents), coloring, bleach, chemical stink - but not in an awful way, that's a manageable scent for about an hour. Now I just cut my own.

Brent

Catherine Deneuve: "You should put scent where you like to be kissed."

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

All subjective, it's true.

But for me, it's one or more of the following: spice, powder, lavender, musk, menthol.

Of all the fragrance classes, fougeres seem the most "barbershop" to me, followed closely by a smaller number of orientals. Fougeres are also not conicidentally considered the most classically masculine of all these categories - lavender-fresh up top with a mossy/powdery/musky drydown. Brut, Azzaro PH, Pinaud Clubman, Canoe, Tuscany, Paul Sebastian, the list goes on...

The orientals that I consider "barbershop" focus primarily on the more masculine notes in the category like clove and sandalwood with a powdery finish. I'd lump Jacomo de Jacomo, Old Spice, and the bay rums in here.

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

hmm like others have mentioned, it could be subjectivce. for me obsession brings me memories of shaving cream whicd had similar notes and the after shaves that saloons used...maybe they had some prominent note which is present in Obsession too...hence the remark...

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

As one of the older members, my memories are much different. Pine, mint, lavender, and bay rum are the essences that the true barber shop after shaves were made from. Davidoff Relax smells exactly like a barber shop.

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

I live and was raised in a small midwestern town that had several old time barber shops. This was loooong before it became acceptable or even fashionable for men to go to a stylist. I believe that those posters that said "barbershop like" smells are quite right when they say the scent is subjective. For me it is the hair tonics and toilet waters and powders that I remember from my youngest years. For others it may be other scents that were used in the barbershops they patronized in thier youth. Ave Luxe midnight violets smells exactly like the powder the barber used to slap on my neck with a towel after he had finished shaving it.

Cheers,

Rick

" I wanna have my kicks before the whole s--t house goes up in flames"

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

To me, the classic middle-American, mid-century barbershop smell is perfectly captured in Blenheim Bouquet. Something about the citrus and lavender on the top - followed by pine and musk at the bottom - give it the character I'm looking for...

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

I've never had a shave in a barbershop, but the smell of talcum powder is what I associate with the smell. For no other reason than it's the last thing I smell as I'm leaving, since they lightly sweep my neck with it after a hair cut.

Pinaud Clubman and Caswell-Massey Jockey Club always come to mind for me when I hear barbershop.

Re: What makes a fragrance 'barbershop'?

Originally Posted by atrac

I've never had a shave in a barbershop, but the smell of talcum powder is what I associate with the smell. For no other reason than it's the last thing I smell as I'm leaving, since they lightly sweep my neck with it after a hair cut.

Pinaud Clubman and Caswell-Massey Jockey Club always come to mind for me when I hear barbershop.

It's very subjective indeed.

I was going to mention talcum powder also.

I agree it is subjective. The reason I started the thread is I wanted to get various ideas on the table, as the term has been used in a few threads without explanation.